LINC and Freedom Schools partnered for the first time this summer to provide summer school for pre-K-6th grade students in the Kansas City Public Schools. Students worked on grade-appropriate lessons to keep them engaged in fun learning activities during the six-week summer session.

Tia Patrick, Freedom School Site Coordinator, worked with students in grades K-2 at African-Centered College Preparatory Academy. "It's empowering for children and preparing them for the next school year," she said. "For my site it is mostly kindergarten students working on numbers, letters, sounds, colors, and shapes." 

Students began summer school with a reading pre-test and are currently completing the post-test. According to Patrick, students have already shown growth by using skills that they didn't display at the beginning of summer school. 

During book fair day at ACCPA, July 10, LINC and Freedom Schools staff worked together to prepare students for a march later that afternoon. Students used crayons and markers to create large signs with messages such as "Rock the Vote", "Vote for Our Future", and "Vote for Children."

As lunch approached, 500 students gathered outside ACCPA and marched in front of the school and around the block chanting their sign slogan. Residents honked and cheered as students made their way back to the front of the school. 

Watch the video on Vimeo

Learn more about Freedom Schools at www.kcfreedomschools.org.